Now, I lived in Washington State for some ten years of my life. I can now honestly tell you that Arnold, Maryland is currently the gloomiest place I have ever been. Fog has a constant presence throughout the day, the temperature never rises above 40 degrees (most of the time doesn;t exceed 30), and the winds, THE WINDS HOLY COW the winds are insane!! Personally, they keep life interesting out here, but Elder Hinkle will literally shrivel up into a mobile feeble position and waddle in retreat to the closest house. Meanwhile I'm lifting both arms up and embracing gust after gust like a wind god. We are a hilarious companionship. Elder Hinkle keeps me focused without ever telling me to. He does a great job of leading by an example and I'm doing a lot better these days than October!
Ok throwing back to last night's Super Bowl. President Richards told us sternly that we are to not watch the Super Bowl under any circumstance. We were invited over for Super Bowl Dinner a few days prior and had already told Brother Ron (the sassiest old black 6'5 Baltimore man you'll ever meet) that we couldn't watch the game. Striding on up to his humble home, we realize there are at least ten cars parked outside. Ron answers the door and ushers us in to his jam-packed, booze-filled party with a crazy rough crowd. When I say rough, I mean roughhh. And I know rough. Ron is an active member and wasn't drinking but let us know all of his friends and family that were over were enjoying themselves. He then told us we was going to get all of their attentions and have us teach the Restoration to them all.
Elder Hinkle may or may not have wet his pants, idk
Sitting on two half-broken lawn chairs, T.V. to our backs, we sat facing this 20+ ghetto crowd. Ron told them, "Now before we watch the bowl, y'all are gonna sit down, shut up, and listen to my Eldas teach the Word."
Without planning before hand any sort of message, we likened football to the Restoration of the Priesthood and Gospel of Jesus Christ so well, so perfectly, that at the end of our bizarre sermon proclaiming our living day Prophet is the one and only Quarterback of the headcoach Christ, every hoodlum and street rat homeboy in there yelled, "PRAISE THE LORD" with a few hallelujahs sprinkled throughout. Sure, they were mostly all drunk, but it was awesome.
That is a rather radical example of what faith can do. I went into that lesson completely blank on what to teach or even how to talk to most of those people. But because of my faith in being led to help these people the Lord's way, the way he would have me do it, I didn't even have to think about what to say. It's an incredible, indescribable experience when the Spirit leads you. At one point of the lesson I took a second to realize what I was saying and how crazy I sounded, then looked out and saw the smiles, the nods, the pursed black lips of approval and there was nothing stopping me.
I promise you that if we do our part in being obedient to the Lord and put our trust in his judgment, the very words will fill your mouth of what to say. Likewise, faith in Jesus Christ leads us to act on our beliefs. If we believe that Christ truly is our Savior and Redeemer we will desire to change our lives according to the Commandments given to us. As someone who has made and continues to changes to his life, I can tell you of the happiness that has replaced the cold stump of coal previously loitering in my heart. It is never easy. It is never fun. But change is necessary and absolutely essential to obtaining true joy and love in life.
Trust in the Lord and he will direct all your paths. Hallelujah.
xoxo
Elder Burgess
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